Inspirational Concert at NFA

Recently, Fostertown ETC Magnet School alumni, now students at Newburgh Free Academy, returned to give a special performance for current students and discussed the importance of creating a solid foundation through education. In addition to meeting New York State curriculum requirements, Fostertown students focus on fine and performing arts through theater and music. The former students, now in the NFA AARTS Academy, spoke to students about the role that Fostertown played in the early educational years and performed a variety of songs, dances numbers and spoken-word poems. From English to music, the students explained that the values and core ideas that they were taught at Fostertown have helped them reach their goals in high school.

Lexi Lawson is currently on a world tour with the Broadway show “In the Heights”

In addition to Newburgh Free Academy students, Fostertown and NFA alumnus Lexi Lawson made a special guest appearance for the young audience. Lawson is currently on a world tour with the Broadway show “In the Heights” as the principle female ‘Vanessa’. She recently completed the “Broadway Tour” of RENT! playing the lead role of ‘Mimi’. In addition to her theatrical credits, Lawson was also on American Idol Season 8 and has garnered numerous television, film and advertising credits since graduating from NFA.

“This performance provided a way to for the NFA students to show the positive impact that fusing the arts with academics has had on their education from elementary to high school. Hopefully they have inspired some of the younger students while sending a “thank you” message to their former teachers,” explained NFA Dance Teacher Mandy Clifford.

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Photo by Newburgh photographer Beth McKee Elliot. Add your own photos depicting city life to the Newburgh Restoration Flickr pool to be used on the blog, or email me. **Flickr users please do not forget to remove disabling of downloading of pictures otherwise, I can’t use them** Please do not take photos for your own use without consulting the photographer.

Photo by Newburgh photographer Cher Vick. Add your own photos depicting city life to the Newburgh Restoration Flickr pool to be used on the blog, or email me. **Flickr users please do not forget to remove disabling of downloading of pictures otherwise, I can’t use them** Please do not take photos for your own use without consulting the photographer.